I wanted so much to fall in love with the Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks but…

Some of you may remember the huge promotional blitz surrounding the launch of the Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks. If you are someone who is new to wearing lipstick, I do think that the Rouge in Love range is a good place to start looking. There are 3 groups of colours to suit 3 different “moods” – Jolis Matins (day wear where colours are light), Boudoir Time (mid tone “cocktail” colours) and Tonight is my Night (deep intense colour). There are 27 colours available locally so you can go a little crazy 😛

If you aren’t sure of what yours is (and really, there’s no need to be pigeon holed!) the letters after the numbers will tell you what they are. M (Jolis Matins), B (Boudoir Time) and N (Tonight is my Night). The colour I have here is 280N Bibi Rose, which you may have guessed belongs in the “Tonight is my Night” range so what we should expect to get is a deep intense colour suitable for the night.

Well, lets just say that I haven’t fallen in love with the Lancome Rouge in Love series of lipsticks. I’ll tell you why, naturellement 😉

First, packaging. I’m sorry Lancome, the packaging doesn’t do it for me. I dislike the almost industrial aluminium look and feel to the lipstick. When I buy into a brand like Lancome, I expect French luxury, heft, and elegance. I want to pull out the lipstick and have people’s eyebrows go up and think “Ooh, luxe!” The brushed metal case of Rouge in Love lipsticks look industrialized, and plain and the heft is disappointing. Non!

I talked about this before in how a brand, in attempting to woo the young seem to have ignored those wanting something classic. The Rouge l’Absolu case is classic and elegant. Next to it, the Rouge in Love seems almost gauche. I’m sorry if you like the case. Clearly, I don’t 😛

The sudden lace print on the side of the cover jars with the otherwise utilitarian metal packaging and makes me think that when they were designing the packaging, they weren’t quite sure what they were after. Delicate or serious, elegant or plain. The result was a mish mash of designs that I personally feel doesn’t go. Granted, its only packaging but that’s the first thing we see right?

The colour I have is 280N Bibi Rose which is a pretty name.

In the tube, Bibi Rose looks like a lovely opaque rose shade. The colour is absolutely lovely, and is a shade I would personally wear. However, I was a little taken aback that this shade is placed in the “night” category when I don’t think it merits that. Its just too light to carry off a “Tonight is my Night” look.

There is no shimmer, and what you get is a plain simple straight up rose. However, pigment is quite lacking, unfortunately. Again, for a colour that is targeted at those looking for something for the evening, I think Bibi Rose falls flat because you need quite a few layers for the colour to actually show up on lips.

Rouge in Love 280N Bibi Rose swatch Left: One swipe Right: 3 swipes

See what I mean? 1 swipe gets you something approximating a tinted lipbalm. With 3 swipes, you get something more “lipstick” like in terms of coverage. This isn’t a bad thing to be honest. Sometimes, we want something light and this fits the bill because you can then layer it on to build up colour.

If you are someone new to wearing lipstick, you may like this one, because the light translucent pigment means you don’t look overly made up as some people feel, when they wear lipstick. And if you are feeling more adventurous, you can layer it on for something more opaque. That said, it never really turns very opaque. The texture on lips is light and I’d hesitate to say that its balmy because its not as balmy as other hybrid lipsticks I’m used to. But its light so if you don’t like that heavy texture associated with lipsticks, you may like this.

Here’s approximately how it looks on my lips. I applied about 3-4 layers here to get it to show up properly, and you can see that it doesn’t look heavy at all. The colour is a soft rose which, at the risk of repeating myself, I feel is more of a day shade than an evening shade for lips. In the day, it brightens the features and skintone so wear this in the day 🙂

Lancome claims it lasts 6 hours. I never take my lipstick past lunch time so I’d say 4-5 hours is a good bet with liquid intake. I checked out some of the colours at a counter while I was going past one day, but if I’m to be honest, I’d say the colours aren’t very unique. They are in fact, very safe. They are colours I’d say would be a good launch pad to pick up your first lipstick, but at RM75 a tube, I personally would want something a little more. More balmy, more colour, more moisturizing, more unique. Rouge in Love is a good lipstick by all accounts, but I’m sorry, I’m not in love.

In a nutshell

Rouge in Love lipsticks come in 27 shades locally and are set out in 3 distinct categories to suit your mood. The colours are very safe and I find the texture a little sheer. You can easily layer it to get it to the opacity you desire, which is of course a good thing. If you are new to using lipstick and don’t want anything too strong, one layer of a light tint of colour will do the trick. However, I found that the lighter shades were disappointing on lips because they hardly show up. So I personally suggest going for the Boudoir or Tonight is my Night shades which impart more colour. I dislike the packaging which I find too utilitarian and industrial. I prefer my lipsticks to look more classical and elegant. Overall, I think the formula is good, but colour selection could be improved, as right now, there is little to distinguish it from other brands, even from the pharmacy/drugstore.

Pros: Light texture, Safe colours if you aren’t very adventurous with lip colours, Can be worn light or opaque as you wish

Cons: I dislike the packaging, Regular lipstick wearers may find little to interest them as the colour selection isn’t very unique

Who will like this: Anyone new to wearing lipstick and who wants something light yet not too strong coloured, Anyone who is an Emma Watson fan because she makes it look amazing

Here’s an example of how it looks in a full face shot. This series of photos weren’t to my satisfaction but I haven’t had the time to take new ones so I took the best of the lot, which is my version of the Messy Wands FOTD 😀 She looks way more amazing and modelesque though 😀

As you can see, despite the layers of colour, the lipstick isn’t very opaque nor overwhelming. It is a gentle sort of rose shade that brightens up the complexion but isn’t very unique. Its a colour I gravitate to often so I have quite a few lipsticks in a similar shade, simply because it looks good in the day without being too much, you look polished for work, and if you really have to, it looks fine for dinner in the evenings too 🙂

What’s your take on the Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks? I’m a little harsh on them but honestly, I did expect a lot more because I was told that I’d love them, so I was quite disappointed. Don’t let me put you off though. You may like it 😀

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

oh dear.. was contemplating buying this for the longest time, but now that you point out it does seem quite sheer. just curious, you mentioned you have a few lipsticks in a similar shade – which would you recommend? i’ve been looking for a rose coloured lipstick for the longest time but have no clue where to start 🙂 thanks loads!

Erm to be perfectly honest, there’s a shade in Maybelline that is close 😛 I wore it a lot but I can’t recall the name. Look for something Berry or Berry something. Also try Revlon Colourburst Mauve, Giorgio Armani Shine 4 and Chanel Rouge Coco in Camelia. Japanese brands do good rose shades so look under those too, marked RS. Told ya I wear a lot of these shades lol! 😀

I always feel excited whenever I walk past the Lancome counter and seeing all 27 shades of lippies and the colours look appealing but I didn’t buy it becuase of the packaging actually. I wouldn’t mind paying a lil bit more and get a a YSL or Chanel.

At first with all the hype I was really quite curious. But I passed by a counter the other day and these look really ‘industrial’ to me, they look like tins to be honest and it is rather strange to see tins appearing at a makeup counter (well unless they change all their packaging to such, then its a different story). I didnt even take a second glance and walked off. And yes even with a qucik glance I could tell the colours arent that phenomenal..Better off wth Dior Extreme Lipstick in Black Tie 😉

Woohoo! A Dior Addict lipstick fan!! Join the club 😀 I’ve tried some of the Addict Extreme and loving them! (If you missed it here’s the fun post, and the Black Tie post 😉 ) for me, Dior makes one of the best lipsticks in the market. I love the Rouge Dior range too!

I love the color on your lips! Yea, it’s not really for nigh look anyway, looks good for afternoon.
I got 144M Coquine Mandarine, a morning color, the color is so light/sheer that I almost feel nude. Anyway it’s good for me cause I am not a lipstick person. It is a bit too dry for me though, applied for a while and I can feel my lips dried up.

Thank you Jean, the colour is indeed pretty but a bit too normal. I do think the day ones are much too sheer and light and you’re also right about it being a bit dry. Just a little for me, but it isn’t as nice as some of the other sheer balmy lipsticks I’ve tried. Pity!

That’s too bad as these seemed interesting. The side-by-side comparison with the classic packaging was such a deal breaker. Plus the sheerness of the product with up to 6 applications to get decent color. The Bibi Rose shade is quite lovely though.

Hi Paris .. I heard that the ones released in Asia are different than those in the US. In Asia, the lipstick is on the sheer side. Dun understand why. So I ordered 1 from US to see the difference in texture. Once i receive mine .. will let u know

Oh bummer! Did they have to do this to us again?! 😛 I understand that Japanese lipstick are sheer and I have come to like it but at least they make them interesting. Would love to know your thoughts on the US version once you get it 🙂

Hey Paris, agree with you on the lip color not being very “night”. At RM75 a pop, I could go pick up 3 Revlon Lip Butter and have lots of fun.
But oohhh, my purpose in writing this is not the lippies. I just wanted to say, in the last pic, your facial contour look very lovely. Very defined 😀

Haha! I love balmy lipstick actually. But I guess I just expected more. Sigh… You’re lucky to be able to wear Mac. I can’t. My lips dry out like the Sahara once I put them on. Not even the Lustre range works 🙁 but that means I spend more at Dior and Chanel I guess lol! Oh do do jump on the Guerlain bandwagon! I’d love to have you on board lol! 😉

I for myself can totally understand your comments about packaging and frusturation. Packaging is soooo important for individuals (mostly) and I still believe brands like Benefit and TheBalm got all their credits from packaging (I don’t say they are useless I just say without that packaging I don’t believe they would be such a hype in this world). The packaging of this lipstick looks more like a Loreal or Maybelline lipstick 🙂
Also, I believe the color is great and I hate pigmented lipsticks because I can’t wear them (lol!) so I liked this sheer effect even for the night collection, but again I understand your expectations for this much money you want to see color, if you didn’t you would have gone for daytime or cocktail collection (which by the way after this review I really wonder how they sheer they would look).

Oh you are too right about packaging, and spot on about Benefit and TheBalm. They are two brands that seriously thrive based on packaging alone. Stila used to too, if you remember the Stila girls. I do think Lancôme could have put more thought into the packaging. But who knows, maybe they did lol!! Another reader has mentioned that hers from the day collection is super sheer but a bit drying. Not the best combination if you ask me 🙂 have these come out where you are?

Oh by the way about the packaging I forgot about Too Faced 🙂 Super sheer plus drying?! No no no!! You’re right first of all I hate drying lipsticks I want them to be a little bit moisturizing, or at least non drying.

I don’t believe it arrived here in Turkey but I might have missed them totally because I really don’t like Lancome as a brand (because of bad experience from the skincare, I totally lost my interest to them) also I don’t like to spend so much money on one lipstick, if I like the formula I’d prefer cheaper versions for always (like Maybelline, Loreal or so, even though Loreal is kind of a expensive brand here their last lipstick collection Caresse is 20 dollars each!)

Oh yes, Too Faced does some gorgeous pop up palettes every Christmas. I haven’t really used anything from the brand though. I actually like Maybelline lipsticks. More than Loreal. Oh and I’m not sure we’re even getting Caresse 🙁 it sure looks good but at 20 dollars, that’s crazy!

Ok I just found out that they did in fact arrived here in Turkey but as I mentioned before I never used lipstick/gloss from High end brands like Dior, Estee or Lancome so I believe I must have not seen them.

Also, I wanted to tell you that besides your blogging (which is great that you don’t blog like you are writing a press release but actually and mostly talking about your true opinion), I really liked that you try to reply everyone that leaves comments here 🙂 That is so nice that you are an active blogger not only on blogging part but also in comments part.

Thank you so much for your kind words! I think it only fair that I reply comments where I can, because people took the time to leave the comments so I should find some time to talk back at them. Can’t be just having a one way conversation. That’s quite boring right? 😀

i like the classic packaging, but I also quite like the new one too. The classic one feels a bit more grown up n lush maybe, the new one feels a bit more young n chic, that said, I don’t like the lacey bit… it feels like as though there’s metal overlapping, and the designer decided to do something fancy to cover up 🙂

I’m fine with the new “industrial” packaging. I think it gave off a young vibe. But I don’t like it because it doesn’t have shimmer like Dior Addict. It is cheaper though, but I don’t mind adding RM20-RM30 more just to get a better lipstick.

Yeah, it doesn’t give off that lovely shine we get with Dior right? I’m quite amused how many people are piping up to compare this one to Dior Addict! And even funnier to see Dior winning on all counts even though it’s pricier! Tells you how much more savvy we are 😀

You’re too sweet, Jen! I think I used a now discontinued Lancôme eyeshadow palette in Escapade Champetre which is a greenish palette for the eyes. Try to get your hands on the Lancôme single shadow in G40 Erika F. It’ll give you this result all on its own 🙂

Hey 🙂
I have a Rouge In Love myself and I completely understand what you mean. I have 322M Corail in Love. And, yes, it’s kind of like a coral tinted lip balm… But it still can be a bit more opaque than yours, I think.
I actually got to engrave my name on the side of the metal case at the store so it got a little more fancy x) but I agree on the packaging being too… undecised and confusing. I think I’d go classier too.

But what bugs me most about this lipstick is that, even though it’s translucid and all, it doesn’t moisturize that much. My lips are quite dry, but they dry up in 15 mins when wearing this, I just though the soothing would last a little bit longer.
Oh, well… You learn with each purchase! :p x

Ooh how swanky to have your name engraved on the lipstick!! I think that’s so cool 😀 Coraio in Love sounds like such a pretty shade even if it’s sheer. I didn’t think it too dry or drying, but it most certainly doesn’t feel as comfortable as other balm hybrid lipsticks I own. Guess lancôme still needs to work on their formula 🙂

Haha you’re right. There’s no need to own all the sheer lipsticks in the world 😉 I prefer to go for those that I particularly like. Lancome does very good pigmented lipsticks in their Rouge l’Absolu range and I personally feel they should have used that as their base, but that’s me! 🙂